Two clubs want Noni Madueke but Arsenal will pay the price for their failed summer strategy

Arsenal might have landed a few targets this summer and started the season well but with interest apparently rife in Noni Madueke, they could now be stuck with him.

Both Juventus and Atletico Madrid are said to be keen on the England winger, who has not played nearly as much as he’d have liked so far this season.

Madueke cost the Gunners around £50m but while he has contributed, he knows he’ll always be second fiddle to Bukayo Saka.

Still, there are clubs who want to take him it seems. But for Arsenal, their failed summer recruitment strategy might mean he has to stick around.

Why Arsenal cannot sell Noni Madueke

Look, the reality is that Noni Madueke is probably never going to dislodge Saka from that starting spot and when played on the other side, he’s not shown nearly enough.

Put simply, in an ideal world, if someone came in with the money Arsenal paid for him, then the obvious thing to do would be to sell.

However, Arsenal’s disastrous pursuit of a new winger – other than Christos Tzolis – means that in the end, Madueke is going to have to stick around.

As of right now, Mikel Arteta simply doesn’t have the squad depth to allow another forward player to leave.

Yes, we have said Madueke needs to do more but he does at least have that flexibility at the top of the pitch and of course, Premier League experience.

With both Gabi Martinelli and Leandro Trossard allowed to leave and Ethan Nwaneri going out on loan, letting Madueke go too would leave Arsenal well short.

Sure enough, if a new signing is made, things could change here.

But as it stands, Arsenal’s willingness to let Trossard and Martinelli leave and then inability to replace them has left them effectively stuck with Madueke for now.

Once again, it is Andrea Berta who is going to have to face the music on this one.